| name | governance-transformation-method |
| description | Use when implementing comprehensive state reforms or transforming governance systems. Follows Shang Yang's model — mutual responsibility (什伍), family structure reform, merit-based ranks replacing hereditary privilege, and standardized weights, measures, and legal codes. |
Governance Transformation Method (from Shang Yang's reforms)
Overview
A comprehensive approach to transforming state governance through legal and economic reforms.
Core Reforms
1. Mutual Responsibility System
- Organize households into groups of 5-10 (什伍)
- Establish mutual surveillance and collective punishment
- Reward those who report crimes (same as military merit)
- Punish those who conceal crimes (same as surrendering to enemy)
2. Family Structure Reform
- Require adult sons to establish separate households
- Penalize families with multiple adult sons living together (double taxation)
- Purpose: Increase household count and tax base
3. Merit-Based Reward System
- Military achievement = rank promotion
- Private fighting = criminal punishment
- Agricultural productivity (grain and silk) = tax exemptions
- Commercial failure or laziness = enslavement
4. Aristocracy Reform
- Strip hereditary privileges from royal family members without military merit
- Remove names from royal registry if no contribution
- Create new nobility based on achievement
5. Standardization
- Unify weights and measures
- Standardize administrative divisions (consolidate into counties)
- Create uniform legal codes
Implementation Sequence
- Establish credibility (see credibility-establishment-method)
- Announce all laws simultaneously
- Enforce against highest-profile violators first (even crown prince's tutors)
- Relocate critics to border regions
- Maintain consistent enforcement for years
Expected Outcome
A centralized, meritocratic state with strong military and agricultural productivity.
Validation
- Verify credibility was established first (see credibility-establishment-method) before announcing reforms — reforms without prior credibility face passive resistance
- Confirm enforcement against high-profile violators (even crown prince's tutors) has been publicly visible — selective enforcement undermines the entire system
- Assess whether the merit-based reward system is actually replacing hereditary privilege in practice, not just in proclamation — check the royal registry for names removed
